Skills every women should know

There is a fantastic amount of information out there about “adulting” and how to do it properly. There are books, blog posts, articles, seminars, YouTube channels, etc. There is tons of great information to be found out there but we’ve noticed that the literature tends to eschew a few of the most basic and common skills every woman should know, in fact every adult should have in favor of smaller more detailed tips and tricks.

So, for today, we thought it would be a good idea to get back to basics.

#1. CPR

Do you know what to do if someone is choking? Do you know what to do if someone isn’t breathing or if they collapse? Getting certified in CPR–for the elderly, infants, and adults–is something every responsible adult should get certified. Why? Because you never know when something bad is going to happen!

Woman doing CPR

Knowing what to do to help someone who is in distress is important, especially if they are unable to breathe!. And, while you’re learning CPR, learn how to perform some of the basic CPR functions–like the Heimlich maneuver–on yourself, in the event that something goes wrong when you are alone.

#2. First Aid

Do you know what to do when a band-aid isn’t enough? Can you tell the difference between a cut that needs bandaging and one that needs stitches? Do you know how to properly bandage common wounds and or how to splint more serious injuries? Can you wrap an ace wrap properly around a wrist, an ankle, a knee? Do you know whether ice or heat is needed to soothe a specific type of pain? Like CPR, these are skills that every woman should know.

First aid

Moreover, in addition to the first aid skills, every adult should have the right first aid supplies needed to perform basic doctoring at home or on the fly.

#3. When to See a Doctor

Obviously knowing how to do CPR and how to administer First Aid are invaluable skills but you should also know when basic “field doctoring” isn’t enough and an actual doctor’s treatment should be sought.

When to see your doctor

Commonly the rule is that medical treatment should be sought for fevers that last longer than a day or measure over 103 degrees, illnesses that last longer than a week, and injuries that show signs of infection or that need a higher degree of medical care–like stitches, putting dislocated joints back together, etc.–than you can offer.

#4. Repairs

If you don’t know the difference between a flat head and a phillips head screwdriver or get pliers and wrenches mixed up, now is a time to make a change. Everybody should know how to use basic tools and do at least some basic repairs.

Woman with basic repairing skills

Start with a beginners’ tool set! Learning how to snake your own drain, for example, doesn’t necessarily require a bunch of plumbing skills and will reduce your dependency on Drano (which is terrible for pipes). Knowing how to empty a garbage disposal, change a fuse and do basic construction (beyond deciphering Ikea assembly instructions) is good for saving money and can even improve your confidence levels. There’s nothing quite like knowing that you absolutely could fix something if it needed fixing.

#5. Cleaning

Hopefully you already know never to mix ammonia and bleach! And if you didn’t, now you do! Beyond that, it is time to accept that you simply should not be cleaning your entire home with windex.

woman with cleaning skills

Different types of cleaners–while they all do the same basic task (cleaning), do that task in a variety of ways. The cleaning agents used on enamel is different than those used for wood or plastic.

Pay attention to the cleansers you choose and make sure you are using the appropriate cleaner for the surface you’re cleaning.  And, for that matter, learn how to tell the difference between when something is actually clean and when it is tidy. It’s not just your picky Mom who will notice the dust bunnies caught in the spider web in the corner.

#6. Laundry

Yes, technically, laundry is a type of cleaning but it still deserves its own category because fabric is much pickier than your bathroom floor tile. If you’re like most of us, you’ve been relying solely on cold water for washing and medium-hot heat for drying. And if you live in an apartment complex where you have to share laundry machines you might not have a lot of say about the temperature of the water in the washer or the air in the dryer.

Woman doing laundry

Whenever you are able, however, make the effort to care for your clothing properly. Your clothing will last so much longer if you do. More importantly, your gym wear won’t still smell funky even after you’ve run it through the wash!

These basic skills every woman should know will go a long way toward feeling like a “real” adult. Knowing what to do and how to do it–especially when the stakes are high–is a real game changer!

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